Railway car



B. W. KADEL A ril 9, 1929.

RAILWAY CAR Filed March 18, 1924 Iii] Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES BYEES W. KADEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

RAILWAY CAR.

Application filed March 18, 1924. Serial No. 699,986.

The invention relates to railway cars and has as its principal object to provide improvements in the door construction of the same. One of the objects is to provide an improved arrangement of door stiffener or door spreader, with door securing means carried thereby. Another object is to provide improved means for supporting the doors in partially or fully closed position. A still further object is to provide means for forcing such doors shut and for locking them in closed position. With such objects and others in view, the invention consists of the formation, combination and arrangement of parts as will be herein described and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which show a preferred form of the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a railway car having a door mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken in the direction of arrow A, Figure 1, and showing a portion of the hopper and door, together With the door supporting mechanism. Figure 3 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view through the door spreader or door stili'ening member, this view being taken on line 3-3 oi Figure 2. Figure 4 a transverse sectional view taken through a, portion of the car and door, this view being taken on the line 4-4 Figure 1. liigure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hopper of the car, this view being similar to Figure 1, but showing the door in partially closed position instead of in fully closed position. Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through a port-ion of the locking mechanism, this view being taken on the line 66, Figure 2. Figures 7, 8 and 9 are perspective views respectively of the preliminary latching member the final latchiug member and the fixed hook or ledge car ried by the car body.

The car chosen for illustration of the invention is of the ordinary twin hopper type such as is well known in the art. The side of the car or the hopper endsheet is denoted by numeral 1. It is shown in the drawings as provided with a sealing flange 2 along the side and bottom of the discharge opening the offset 3 comprising a seat for the door l. The door is hinged at 5 to any suitable portion of the car body, the hinge pintl extending transversely of the car and the door being arranged to swing open by gravity for the discharge of the lading. Near the lower or free edge of the door there is secured to the outer face of the same a stiffening member 6 which extends transversely of the car, and in cases where individual hoppers are supplied at either side of the center sill construction of the car, this member may constitute a door spreader for uniting the two members of the door. This door stiffening member 6 is preferably formed of a channel or U- shaped section having a web portion 7 araugcd to lie in a plane parallel with the plane of the door plate. Securing rivets 8 may be passed through holes in this web and through the door plate for securing the stifiener directly against the outer face of the door. The flange or web members 9 of the channel or U-shaped section extend outwardly from opposite edges of the web portion 7 thereof, and at the outermost edges of these flange or web portions 9 there are formed in the present embodiment, return flanges 10 which stiffen the edges of the main flanges or webs 9, these return flanges 10 being arranged in a plane parallel 'ith that of the Web 7.

The door 4 is preferably formed of a steel plate with marginal flanges 11 formed around its edges in order to still'en the door plate. The end of the stiffening member 6 terminates slightly inwardly of one of the marginal flanges 11 and door supporting memhers are carried by the stiffener and comprise an extension thereof, these overlying the flange 11 so as to reach out slightly beyond the side of the car in order to coo erate with supporting means that is attachec to the side 01 the car.

The supporting means the side of the car consists, in the present embodiment, of a bracket 12 which is riveted to the hopper end sheet by means of rivets 13. This bracket is offset at 14 to pass around the shoulder 3 of the hopper end sheet and tl ,ends outwardly along the flange 2 Near its outer end this bracket is provided with a ledge 15" adapted to be engaged by pivoted door supporting members 16 or 17 mounted upon the door. Outwardly of the ledge 15 this bracket isprovided with an approach portion 18 arranged to lift either of the latches 16 or 17 to cause them to drop into engaging position with the ledge 15.

The latch 16 and the latch 17 are both pivoted to the door at acommon pivot center and with a common pivot pin 19. The latches that is carried by both extend withinfthe space between the flanges'or-webs 90f the doorstifl'ener 6 and swing in parallel.planes,.0ne just outside of I the other, andv both parallel-with the plane of thedoor plate. This comprises a desirable ar- .rangement of the parts as the' latch members 1 "do not occupy additional space beyond the limits of the channel and also are kept close to the door plate for greater efficiency. In order toprovide a sti'fi and substantially pivot construction, a pivot bracket is provided. This has a plate portion 21 which spans from one return or outstanding flange 1O tot-he other, the bracketas awhole beingsecurcd to the spreader by means of rivets 22 which pass thro uglr-t hese-return or'outstanding flanges.

The. bracket 20' has a portion 23 thereof ar- 7 rangefd'to extend inwardly toward the web 7 and to fit between the flanges or webs 9 of the'channel or U-shapedsection'of the door stiffening member. This portion 23 is arranged with a pierced; inner wall through which "the pivot pin 19 is inser'ted. The pivot ends of the latches ltijand 17 are inserted between the outenface ofjthe bracket'20 and one end of the pin 19 m'ay seat. As this boss isnotpi'erced' entirely through, the pin can- 'not work'out'wardly, andwhenthe bracket as a whole is'rivted to'th e" stiifening member 6 v the pin is prevented from. working inwardly by contactwith the web 7 This comprises a V neat, strongand inexpensive manner of'pi'vot- I p inghe latches to'the door stlfienmg member.

henthed'ooris pushed to partially-closed positionthe-innermost latch'16 is arranged.

' tofengage with the'ledge 15 and thereby hold the door'flin a'partially closed position. The

latehfl 5 is provided with an extension 25 arranged-to pass around andover-liethe side i H "Q ofthe carf This extension is provided with an aperture-.26 through which a removable door 7 1; closihg leveror pry 27 may be inserted to force 5 latch- 17 is swung downwardly into engagethe door from partiallyflclosed to fully closed position. The aperture 26'serves as a seat forth'ej lever *anathe rr-set in thebraclret V 14 'may serve as a fulcrumfor the inner end of thelever when'it is operated as afpry to force the'd'oo'r shut. .vVhen the door is-forced shut by thisor other means the ou t-er oriiinal mentf withtheiedge 15, thereby holding the door in fully closed position.

5 The latch 16 is slightly removed :from the outer,- fa'c'e-otthe door but not 'sufliciently so ..togentirely{cleartheouteriedge of the side flange, 1'1}; i-Accordingly this flange is notched at2810;;provide a way-for the swinging ,of 'this latch 16. The upper edge of the 'latchlddiis" also depressed slightly at. 29

to'provide necessary clearance between the latch and the upper flange or web 9 of the channel 6 when the latch is lifted upwardly to release the door. The outer latch is similarly depressed at 34. It is preferable that the closed door he supported near or upon the side flange 11 and to this end the outer latch 17 is provided with an extension 30 along its lower edge which extension is ada )ted when the door is closed, to'seat direct y against the flange 11 at 31 which is immediately below the cut-out portion 28 thereof. This construction also prevents the latch from dropping below the approach or run 18.

In order to lock the latch 17 in engaged position an eccentric cam 32 is pivoted to the bracket 12 immediately above the latch. When thisfis driven against the portion 25 of the latch 17 an effective lock is thereby provided to prevent disengagement of the latch 17 from the latch 15. The latch 17 in turn locks the latch 16 by means of the extension or lip 33 formed along the top edge of the latch 17 This lip is adapted to overlie the top of the latch 16, thereby interlocking the two latches in such manner that the preliminary latch cannot bewithdrawn until the outer latch 17 has first been withdrawn, so that in this way the eccentric cam 32 will serve to lock-both latches. 7

As trouble has been experienced by workmen locking the door when supported in only a preliminary or partial position of closure,

the arrangement and dimensions of the arm 25 and the eccentric locking cam or keeper 32 are such that, when the door is supported in partially closed position by the pivoted latch 16, the cam or keeper 32 cannot be rotated into holding engagement with the arm 25 of the latch 17. Upon the door being moved to fully closed position, the latch 17 will drop behind the ledge 15 of the bracket or hook 12. With the latch in this position the cam 32 may be readily rotated into locking engagement with the arm 25, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. I

I have thus described an embodiment of my invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope oi? the appcndcd claims without departing from the spirit thereof. p

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car, a door, a stiffening member secured to the outer face of the door. the same being of channel cross-section with the web thereoflying parallel with the door and with the flanges outstanding therefrom, a ledge carried by.the car body adjacent the door, and a movable member carried by the door and adapted to engage the said, ledge to hold the door closed, the said movable member lying between the flanges of the said stiflening member.

'2. In a railway car, a door, a stiffening member secured to the outer face of the door,

the same being of channel cross-section with a web port-ion lying parallel with the door and with flange portions outstanding from opp0 site edges of the web, the outer edges of the flange portions carrying return flanges disposed in a plane parallel with that of the web portion, a pivot bracket mounted upon the stiffening member, the same including a plate portion spanning across the outer edges of the flange portions of the same and secured to the said return flanges, and a door locking member pivoted to said pivot bracket.

3. A railway car having a door with an outstanding flange formed along one of its edges, a plurality of pivoted door-supporting members carried by the door on line with said flange, a portion of said flange being cut away to clear one of said pivoted members, and another one thereoi being arranged to seat against the edge of said flange to support the door, and means carried by the car body for supporting cooperation with said last mentioned pivoted member.

l. A railway car having a door, a pair of latches pivoted upon the door, one thereof adapted to support the door in partly closed and the other thereof in fully closed position, a ledge on the car body arranged for engage ment by the said latches, one of said latches having a shoulder adapted to overlie and lock the other latch.

5. A railway car having a door with a latch member pivoted thereupon, a member carried by the car body adjacent said latch adapted for cooperation with the latch to hold the door shut, the outer end of the latch being bent in a direction angular to the main portion thereof to lie in a plane substantially parallel with the side of the or f, the said bent portion of the latch having means adapted to form a seat for a removable door-prying lever.

(i. ll railway car having a door with a latch mom )er pivoted thereupon, a member carried J car body adjacent said latch adapted tor co-operation with the latch to hold the door shut, the outer end. of said latch being bent in a direction angular to the main portion thereot to overlie a fixed portion of the car body, said bent portion being provided with a seat adapted to receive a removable door-prying lever, and means on the said lined. portion 01. the car body adapted to form a 'tulcruin for the lever.

7. it. railway car having a door, said door being provided with a pair of pivoted. latches adap d to swing in parallel planes, a latcheng ging ledge formed. on the car body, one of said latches being adaptedto engage said ledge to hold the door in partly closed position and the other thereof being adapted to eng said ledge to hold the door in tully closed position.

8. A railway car having a door, means for supporting said door in closed position, said means embodying a pair of movable latches and fixed means, one of said latches being cooperable with the fixed means to support the door in partially closed posit-ion and the other of said latches being cooperable with the fixed means to support the door in iully closed position, means for locking said last named latch in door supporting position, and means carried by said last named latch overlapping the outer edge of said first named latch to prevent unlocking movement of the latter.

9. A railway car having a door, a door sup porting latch pivoted upon said door to swing in a plane substantially parallel thereto, a ledge carried by the car body adjacent the door adapted for supporting cooperation with such latch and a latch-locking member pivoted upon the car body adjacent said ledge, the same being adapted to hold the latch in engagement with said ledge.

10. A railway car having a door, the same being provided with a pair of latch members one arranged in advance of the other, a ledge formed upon the car body in position to be engaged by either of said latches, one of said latches being adapted to support the door in a partly closed position and the other in fully closed position, and a cam adapted to lock the last mentioned. latch in engaged position.

1 A railway car having a door, means for supporting the door in partly closed or in fully cl l position, said means including a ledge an a latch pivoted to swing in a plane substantially parallel to that of the door when in. closed position, one carried by the car body and the other by the door, the latch being adapted to engage the ledge to hold the door in partly closed position, and a member adapted to be moved in position between the h ch and the ledge to hold. the door in a iin'ther closed position.

railway car having a door, means for suppm-ting the door in partly closed and in fully closed position, the same including a ledge element and a latch element pivoted to move in a plane substantially parallel to that oil the door when, closed. one :arried by the car body and the other by the door, the latch element being adapted to swing into engaged position with the ledge element to support the door in partly closed position, and a second latch element adapted to swing into a position between the ledge and the first mentioned latch to support the door in tally closed position.

18. A railway car having a door with two latch members mounted thereupon, one ada pted to support the door in a partly closed posiliouand the other in a fully closed position, a ledge carried. by the car body adapted for g nent by either of the said latch means carried by one latchadapted tor l in forcing the door t'rom one of said posh tions to the other.

fl ll ll i i 1'4 A railway'car having a door, aledge forme'diupon' a fixed portion of the car body adjacent said door, anda pivoted latching member carried by the'door adapted to en- ;g'age the ledgefto" support the door in closed position, the ledge member having a portion orminga fulcrum for a removable domprygage the ledge to support the door in closedposition, the latch. member having means or accommodating a removable doorprying lever. a 16'. -A-ra1lway car havmga'door, a ledge 'fiiifiXGCliO thecar body adjacentsaid door, a pivotedl'atoh carriedbythe door adjacent saidledg-e and adaptedto-engage same to support the door, one'of the same having affulcrum an d the other a seatadapted-to receive and accommodate car'body adjacenttheseat attachedto the lever.

i 173A railway having a door provided with a-marginal flange, a ledge affixed to the door, a pair oflatch members carried the door either'o'f which is" adapted to engage saidlledgelto holdthe doorinapartly closed or fully closed position, a portion otsuch flange-being cutaway to clear one of said latches, the other thereof being adapted to over-lie andiseat against said flange,

.18. Afrailwayfoar having a door, a fixed I 1 hook carried by the car body, a pivoted latch carriedby the door. for cooperation with the hookto'support the door in closed position, and 3a pivotally mounted eccentric locking A Ccam car'ried by the car body adapted to en gage the latch'to, hold the latter in engager ment with the llOOlQlll pivotal axis of said 'a'xisfoit the latch r I '19. In" a ra lwaycar,a

jam'being arranged at an angleto the pivotal door, and means for "supportingthe' dooryin closed position involvinga fixed-locking member,'anda lockiing member movable into engagement with I the fixed locking means, "and a keeper for maintainingfth-o outer end of themovable member in locked position, the movable lock- 7 ing'member 'extendmg at an angle" to'the portion thereof engageable with theefixed locking means for engagement by said keeper.

1 20. .Arailway car having a door, a fixed locking member mounted on the car 'boc y, a

movable: locking member mounted on the door aud t-arranged toniove 1n. a planef, parallel Leo;

'toj theplane of the latter for cooperating with said xfixedlocking member to support- {the doorin closed position, and afkeeper for "maintainii'ig the. members in locked position, v

e movable'loclringmember being provided i withfan armoverlappingthe out-er fac'eof the aremovable door prying fixed locking member and engageable by the keeper.

21. A railway car having a discharge ening, a door for closing said opening, a xed hook mounted on the car body and a ivoted latch carried by the door cooperab e with the hook for supporting the door in closed position, the plane of operation of the latch being substantially parallel with the plane of the door and the outer end of said latch terminating in an offset portion extending along and spaced outwardly from the ear side.

22. A railway car having a discharge opening, a door for closing said opening, and mechanism for preventing an opening movementof the door, said mechanism involvin fixed locking means and pivotally mount locking means cooperating therewith to maintain the door in partly closed and fully closed position, one of said means being mounted upon the car body and the other being mounted on the door, and pivotally mounted cam means for cooperating with said pivotally mounted locking means to maintain the latter in locked relation to said fixed locking means, one of said pivoted devices being mounted upon the door and the other being mounted on the car body, and said cam being adapted to move into locking engagement with the said pivoted locking device only when the door is in fully closed position.

23. A. railway ear having a discharge opening. a door for closing said opening, and mechanism for supporting the door in a. plurality of positions of closure involving fixed locking means and pivotal locking means, one ofsaid means being mounted on the car body and the other on the door, and one of said means being provided with a plurality of faces for cooperation with the other of said means to support the door in partially closed or, in fully closed position, and a movable member mounted on the fixed locking means, said movable member being adapted to move into-engagement with the pivoted locking means to maintain the latter in locked position only when the door is supported in fully closed position.

- 24. A railway car, a door, mechanism for supporting the door in a plurality of positions of closure involving fixed locking means mounted on the car and pivoted cking means carried by the door, one of said means being provided with a plurality of faces to cooperate with the other of said locking means to support the door either in partially closed or in fully closed position, and a movable member carried by the car body, the same being so formed and arranged that it may be moved into retaining engagement with the pivoted locking means when the latter is'engagcd with the fixed locking means for holding the door in fully closed position, and s0 that it cannot be moved into retaining engegement with the pivoted locking means when the latter is in engagement with the fixed locking means for holding the door in partially closed position.

25. A railway car, a door, mechanism for supporting the door in a plurality of positions of closure involving a fixed locking means carried by the car and pivoted locking means carried by the door, one of said means being provided with a plurality of faces to cooperate with the other of said lockin means to support the door in partially close or fully closed position, and an eccentric look ing cam pivotelly mounted on the fixed looking means and adapted to move into locking engagement with the pivoted locking means only when the door is supported in fully closed position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BYERS W. KADEL. 

